Boxboard container



Dec. 23, 1958 5 o. w. STONE 2,865,555

BOXBOARD CONTAINER Filed Feb. 28, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I

I 22 22 I I INVENTOR. ORISON W. STONE ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28. 1958 In" llll II INVENTOR. ORISON W. STONE ATTORNEY Den- 23, 1958 o. w. STONE $865,555

BOXBOARD CONTAINER Filed Feb. 28, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR. g ORISOYN w. STONE ATTORNFV.

1953 o. w. STONE 2,865,555-

BOXBOARD CONTAINER Filed Feb. 28, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F I G 9 45 43 INVENTOR.

ORISON W. STONE AT TORNEY Dec. 23, 1958 o. w. STONE 2,865,555

BOXBOARD CONTAINER Filed Feb. 2a, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' ull INVENTOR. ORISON w. STONE ATTORNEY BGXBUARD QONTAINER Orison W. Stone, Valley Cottage, N. Y., assignor to Lassiter Corporation, Charlotte, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application February 28, 1958, Serial No. 718,226

12 Claimsr (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to containers for merchandise and pertains, more particularly, to an improved and inexpensive container for readily packaging, adequately protecting and/ or attractively displayingmerchandise, the parts of the container being so constructed and arranged that, when it is opened, the'contents are conveniently accessible and readily extricable.

A container constructed in accordance with this'invention may be advantageously employed for packaging a Wide variety of solid merchandise including relatively thin and compact articles, such as ladieshosiery, handkerchiefs and the like, and relatively bulky products including items of Wearing. apparel, such as shirts, blouses and sweaters, and various food items. The container may have thegeneral form of a fiat envelope when used to hold relatively thin and compact items and the general form of a box when used to hold relatively bulky items.

The container of this invention, whether in the form of an envelope or a box, is formed from a blank of a stiff foldable sheet material and is preferably made of a suitable weight and grade of an appropriate boxboard. The blank is generally cruciform in configuration and is provided with a plurality of fold lines to define a .first panel which serves as the front wall of the container, a second panel which serves as the rear wall of the container, a top flap and a pair of side flaps.

In the assembled containen'the rear wall constitutes an extension of the lower end of the front wall and is disposed behind the front wall; each side flap constitutes an" extension of a corresponding side of the front wall and is disposed behind the .rear wall; and the top flap constitutes an extension of the upper end of the front wall and is also disposed behind the rear wall. The front wall has a transverse fold line which extends thereacross and is located intermediate its upper and lower ends. The top flap has a pair of downwardly convergent side edges. Each side flap is secured to the rear wall and a corresponding portion of the top flap and is formed with a line of weakness, such as a perforated line, that is substantially coincident with one of the side edges of the top flap. Each line of weakne'ssextends to an end. of the transverse fold line.

The parts of the container are so constructed and arranged that the top flap is adapted to be moved away from the rear wall by pulling, to thereby tear the side fiapsalong the lines of weakness. This permits. tilting of the top flap and the upper portion of the container about the transverse fold line relative to the, remainder of the container. This fold line is at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the front wall so that, whenthe container is opened as stated above, the contents project abovethe rear wall and transverse fold line and are readily accessible for removal.

The container may include a protective liner that is coextensive with the frontandrear walls. This'liner is preferably made of a thin sheet of a flexible, moisture- Patented Dec. 23, 1958 2 proof, transparent, synthetic plastic material, such as cellophane. One or more walls of the container may be provided with an opening which serves as a window for viewing the contents through the transparent protective liner.

It is a primary object of this inventionto provide a container having improved structural and design characteristics. V I I Another object of the invention is to provide a container made from a blank of a suitably stiflf foldable sheet material which maybe economically cut, folded andassembled to form the container with the. aid of conventional equipment. 1 Y

A further object of the inventionis to providean inexpensive containerfor readily receiving, adequately protecting and attractively displaying merchandise.

l A still further object of the; invention is to provide a container of the character indicated which is reasonable in material and manufacturing costs, which is adapted to be readily assembled and closed, which may be easilyand quickly opened, which, when'opened, permits of. con- .venient access and ready removal of its contents, which may be easily reclosed, and which is capable of performing its intended functions in an entirely satisfactory manner. p 7 v The enumerated objects and additional objects, together with the advantages and benefits obtainable-by the use of the container of this invention, will be readily understood by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, which respectively describe and illustrate several forms of containers embodying the invention.

In the drawings,'wherein like reference'characters, denote corresponding parts throughout'the several-views: Fig. l is a plan view of a boxboard blank and a superposed protective liner'from which an envelope type con- ,tainer of this invention may bemade;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of a partially assembled container made from the blank and liner of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2 and shows the container in completely assembled and sealed condition, parts being broken away for better illustration of other parts;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 5 is an enlarged view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 corresponds to Fig. 3 and illustrates the container after it has been opened;

Fig. 7 corresponds to Fig. 6 and shows the parts of the container when it has been reclosed;

Fig. 8 is a view in enlargement'taken along line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view in front elevation of a box type container according to this invention;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation view of the container shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a viewin 11-1l;of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view in enlargement taken along line 12- 12 of Fig. 10; i

Fig. l3 is a view in enlargement taken along line 13--13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is an isometric view of the upper portion of the container shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the top parts being shown in partly open position relative to the remaining parts; and

Fig. 15 is an isometric view corresponding to Fig. 14 and illustrates the upper portion of the container as observed from another position. i

side elevation taken along line second panel 21 serves as the rear wall of the container.

Panel 20-Jis hinged "to panel 21-alonga-fold line 24. Panel zen also hinged'to sidefiap's 22along=fold lines 25 and to top fiap 23 along a fold line 26. Panels 20 and21'are recfangular and' rnay'be'eith'er oblong or square; as desired; Panel 2 1 is slightly-smallerin size thanpanel 20. PaheI ZB is provided With-acircular opening 27 which constitutes a windowfor viewing contentso-f the container. It would be apparent that thiswpening may be of anydesired configuration'and size andmay be'forrned iii any' pfeferred locationin'the blank. Panel 20*h'as a transverse" fold line '28 which is intermediate its' upper and low'enends: This fold line ispr'eferably a short distance below'fold line26.

Fanel21'has" a C-shaped cut30 to obtain a tab 31 whichis'mov'able into; or out of theopening defined by the? cut. These parts of panel 21' form a slit for" the reception of an end portion of top' flap 23;'a s will be eiqplaiire cl further along herein;

Each side "fla'p' 22 has aline of weakness32 which'is preferably in the nature of a perforate line. This line defines an angle' a with fold line 28, as indicated in Fig. l.

Topfi'ap 23'has a pair of converging side edges 33. Each edge 33 defines an angle]; with fold line 26, as indicatedin Fig. 1. Angles a and b are substantially equal and the parts'are' so constructed and arranged that each top 'fiap edge 33' is'substantially coincident withthe perforate line 32 of a corresponding side flap when the container is completely assembled (Fig. 3).

Protective liner L is substantially coextensive with panels 20 andf21. This'liner is slightly wider than these panels, and, as shown, extends laterally beyond fold lines 25 and the side edgesof panel 21. The liner is afiixed to panels 20 and 2 1 in any m'annerknown to the art, preferably by gluing, as indicated by glue area's35 and 36.

For" the purpose of briefly describing a recommended procedure in assemblying and closing container C with selctedmerchandise therein, it is first assumed that blank B and liner L are united and laid out in flattened'condition, as illustrated in Fig. 1; It is'also assumed that the selected merchandise consists ofa pair of ladies hosiery H. The hosiery is prefolded and placed on the liner Within the confines of. panel 20 and with the top, part projectin'g' above transverse fbld line28, butbelow fold line 26.

' Panel 21 and the portion ofliner Lwhich is secured there tb are then swung about. fold line '24 so as to overliethe hosiery. The free end of panel 21 will be below the top of the hosiery (Fig. 6). Top'flap" 23 is now swung-about fold line 26 so as to overlie panel 21'. Glue. is next zipplied over the entire exposed area of'each. side flap 22 and these flaps, are then swung about foldlines 25 to over- -lie portions of top flap 23 and panel 2 1. Thiscoznpletes closingand sealing of the container. It will be noted that the portion of top flap 23 between side flaps 22 is devoid of-glueand also that flap. 23 isnot directly secured to panel 21 To open the container of Fig. 3, a user grasps the free end of'top fiap'23 and raise's'that flap thereby tearing side flaps 22 along perforate lines 32. The top fiap may be swung to the position shown. in Fig. 6 about transverse f'o'ldline28z This exposes the top part of hosiery H and pe'rmits ready removal of the same from the container.

The container, after being opened, as outlined above,

-may, be reclosed byiswinging' top flap 23 over panel 21 .anddns'erting the free end'of this flap into'cut-s'core opening in panel 21 (Fig. 7).

sist Referenceis now had to Figs. 9 through which illustrate a box type container C according to this invention.

' As in the case of container C. container C is also made understood that such parts may be incorporated therein.

Container C comprises a front wall 40, a rear wall 41, a pair of side walls 42, a bottom wall 43 and a top wall 44. Front wall 40 and rear'wall 41 correspond, respecti'vely,.to front wall 20 and rear wall 21 of the earlier described form of the invention. The front wall is provided with a transverse scored fold line 45 which corresponds to' transverse fold line 28, earlier described.

Rear wall 41 has a C-shaped cut 46 and a tab 47 (Fig. 15) which are similar in configuration and the same in function as cut 30 and tab 31.

Each side wall 42 carries a side flap 48 which corresponds to flaps 22 and. which overlies the rear wall, as shown: inFig. 1O andotherviews. Each side flap 48 hasian edge notch 49 anda perforatedline of weakness 50 which extendsfrom its notch 49 to a perforated line 51, formed in corresponding side wall 42. A cutline 52 (Fig. 11) extends horizontally from the upper end of each perforated line 51 to an end-of transverse line 45.

Bottom wall 43 carries-a pair of upstanding fiaps53 whichproject into the interior of the container. Each of theseflapsbears against the inner surface of-a side walland issecured thereto by gluing.

Top wall 44 carries a pair of depending end flaps 54. Each of these flaps bears against the inner surface of a corresponding side wall and is secured to the portion thereof above perforate line 51 and cut line 52 by gluing. Thetop' wall also carries a flap 55 which corresponds to flap 23, earlier described.

When container C is fully assembled and closed, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, flap 55 overlies rear wall 41 and side flaps 48 overlie the rear wall and side portions of flap 55. These parts are'united by glue which is coextensive-withthe entire inner surface of each side flap. It will be-observedfrom an examination of Fig. 10 that the'side edges of'fiap 55 are substantially coincident with perforate lines 50 of the side flaps.

To open the container, the lower end of'flap 55 is grasped and pulled away from the rear wall. This team the side flaps along perforate lines 50 and side walls 42 along the perforate lines 51 and permitting the entire upper top portion of the container to be raised and swung about transverse fold line 45 to the relative position shown in Fig. 15. With the partsin thisrelativeposition, the contents of the container are readily [accessible fer removal.

' The-containermay be reclosed by'repositioning top parts" about thetransverse score line 45 and inserting thej'free end of,flap' '55 into the cut-score opening in rear wall 41 (Fig. 13). f

From'the' foregoing, it is believed that the objects, construction; and advantages of my present invention will be'readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. Although the invention has been'herein shown and described .in several simple substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the 'sameresults. Accordingly it is intended that all matter contained in the description or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only; and not in a limiting sense.

,. I claim:

1'. 'In' 'a container formed from a blank of a. suitably stiff foldable sheet material, an upstanding front wall having a; transverse foldli'ne extending thereacross intermediate its upper and lower ends; arear-wall constituting iite'nsion' of the'lower end 'of'the front wall and an extension of the upper end of the front wall and disposed behind the rear wall, said first flap having a pair of downwardlyconvergent sideedges, and a pair of side flaps, each side flap constituting an extension of a corresponding side of the front wall and being disposed behind the rear wall, each side'flap being secured to the rear wall and a corresponding portion of the first flap and being formed with a line of weakness that is generally coincident with one of the side edges of the first flap, each line of weakness extending to an end of the said fold line, said first flap being adapted to be moved away from the rear wall to thereby efiect tearing of the side flaps along the lines of weakness and tilting of the first flap and the upper portion of the front wall about said fold line relative to the remainder of the front wall.

2. In a container formed from a blank of a suitably stiff foldable sheet material, an upstanding front wall having a transverse fold line extending thereacross intermediate its upper and lower ends, a rear wall constituting an extension of the lower end of the front wall and disposed behind the front wall, a first flap constituting an extension of the upper end of the front wall and overlying the rear wall, said flap having a pair of downwardly convergent side edges, and a pair of side flaps, each side flap constituting an extension of a corresponding side of the front wall and overlying a portion of the rear wall and first flap, each side wall being secured to the rear wall and an underlying portion of the first flap and being formed with a line of weakness that is generally coincident with one of the side edges of the first flap, each line of weakness extending to an end of the said fold line, said first flap being adapted to be moved away from the rear wall to thereby effect tearing of the side flaps along the lines of weakness and tilting of the first flap and the upper portion of the front wall about said fold line relative to the remainder of the front wall.

3. A container according to 'claim 2 including a protective liner bearing against the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls and being substantially coextensive therewith, said liner comprising a sheet of a flexible, transparent and substantially moisture-proof material.

4. A container according to claim 2 wherein the rear wall is cut to obtain a tab that is movable into and out of an opening within the confines of the rear wall, said first flap normally overlying the tab and being adapted to have its lower end portion inserted in said opening.

5. In an envelope type container formed from a blank of a suitably stiff foldable sheet material, an upstanding front wall having a transverse fold line extending thereacross intermediate its upper and lower ends, a rear wall joined to the lower end of the front wall along a fold line and disposed behind the front wall, a top flap joined to the upper end of the front wall along a fold line and disposed behind the rear wall, said top flap having a pair of downwardly convergent side edges, and a pair of side flaps, each side flap being joined to a corresponding side of the front wall along a fold line and being disposed behind the rear wall, each side flap being secured to the rear wall and a corresponding portion of the first flap and being formed with a line of weakness that is generally coincident with one of the side edges of the top flap, each line of weakness extending from a side edge of a side flap to an end of the transverse fold line, said top flap being adapted to be moved away from the rear wall to thereby effect tearing of the side flaps along the lines of weakness and tilting of the top flap and the upper portion of the front wall about the transverse fold line relative to the remainder of the front wall.

6. In an envelope type container formed from a blank of a suitably stiff foldable sheet material, an upstanding front wall having a transverse fold line extending thereacross intermediate its upper and lower ends, a rear wall joined to the lower end of the front wall along a fold line and overlying the front wall, a topflap joined to the upper end of the front wall along a fold line and overlying the rear wall, said top flap having a pair of downwardly convergent side edges, and a pair of side flaps, eachside flap being joined to a corresponding'side of the front wall along a fold line and overlying a portion of the rear wall and first flap, each side fiap being secured to the rear wall and an underlying portion of the first flapand being formed with a line of weakness that is generally coincident with one of the side edges of the top flap, each line of weakness extending from a side edge of a side fiap to an end of the transverse fold line, said top flap being adapted to be moved away from the rear wall to thereby elfect tearing of the side flaps along the lines of weakness and tilting of the top flap and the upper portion of the front -wall about the transverse fold line relative to the remainder of the front wall.

7. A container according to claim 6 including a protective liner between and substantially coextensive with the front and rear walls, said liner comprising a sheet of a flexible, transparent and substantially moisture-proof material.

8. A container according to claim 6 wherein the rear wall is cut to obtain a tab that is movable into and out of an opening within the confines of the rear wall, said top flap normally overlying the tab and being adapted to have lower end portion inserted in said opening.

9. In a box type container formed from a blank of a suitably stiff foldable material, an upstanding front wall having a transverse fold line extending thereacross intermediate its upper and lower ends, a bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls, a top wall and a rear wall spaced from the front wall and constituting an extension of the bottom wall, a top flap joined to the top wall along a fold line and disposed behind the rear wall, said top flap having a pair of downwardly convergent side edges, and a pair of side flaps, each side flap being joined to a corresponding side wall along a fold line and being disposed behind the rear wall, each side flap being secured to the rear wall and a corresponding portion of the top flap and being formed with a first line of weakness that is generally coincident with one of the side edges of the top fiap, each side wall being formed with a second line of weakness that extends from a corresponding first line of weakness toward an end of the transverse fold line, said top flap being adapted to be moved away from the rear wall to thereby effect tearing of the side flaps and side walls along said lines of weakness and tilting of the top flap and the upper portion of the container about the transverse fold line relative to the remainder of the container.

10. In a box type container formed from a blank of a suitably stiff foldable material, an upstanding front wall having a transverse fold line extending thereacross intermediate its upper and lower ends, a bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls, a top wall and a rear wall spaced from the front wall and constituting an extension of the bottom wall, a top flap joined to the top wall along a fold line and overlying the rear wall, said top flap having a pair of downwardly convergent side edges, and a pair of side flaps, each side flap being joined to a corresponding side wall along a fold line and overlying a portion of the rear wall and top flap, each side flap being secured to the rear Wall and an underlying portion of the top flap and being formed with a first line of weakness that is generally coincident with one of the side edges of the top flap, each side wall being formed with a second line of weakness that extends from a corresponding first line of weakness toward and end of the transverse fold line, said top flap being adapted to be moved away from the rear wall to thereby effect tearing of the side fiaps and side walls along said lines of weakness and tilting of the top flap and the upper portion of the container about 

